Brilliant And Stylish Decorating Ideas For Every Rental

Prehaps the most exciting part of moving into a new place is the decorating. Unfortunately, that can be a bit of a challenge when the new home is a rental. But there are clever and stylish solutions to decorate your new home. Below are decorating ideas for rentals that will help transform your home. The United States Census Bureau reports almost 40,201,000 occupied rentals. Of those, 25 to 34 year-olds are the highest population of renters followed by 35 to 44 year-olds. That’s a lot of young adults, couples, and families living in rentals.

Start Here – Decorating Ideas For Rentals

First start by familiarizing yourself with your lease or rental agreement. In particular, you want to understand what alterations are allowed. Does your agreement allow painting, wallpaper, or installing shelving (drilling)? Most agreements restrict any permanent alterations so get clear on what you are allowed.

Develop a good relationship with your landlord or management company representative. Good communication will help you with requests and establishing trust. Don’t be afraid to ask to make specific changes. Make requests in writing (include a paint sample if you would like to paint), include specifics (paint the bathroom or one wall in the bedroom), and submit to your landlord. Do not make any changes until you receive authorization in writing.

In the event the answer is no, don’t despair. Think creatively about how to incorporate your style into the home without making costly alterations.

A Plan

Shopping and decorating without a plan is an overwhelming task. These tips will help you successfully decorate your rental.

Take measurements | Measure rooms for furniture size and scale. Measure windows for treatments and hardware. Draw it out.

Lighting | Note the rooms with an abundance of natural light and the rooms that need a lighting help.

Color Palette | Consider the color scape you want to create in your new home. Are you looking for neutrals, cool and dreamy, hot and spicy? Limit the palette to 3 to 4 colors. One color is the main (it may be your wall color). The second is a complimentary color. The third is for a shot of color. The fourth is perhaps a metallic or shimmer.

Create A Floor Plan | Before you shop or buy think through you furniture placement.

Storage | Where do you need storage? Look for pieces that will address those storage needs.

Pictures | Take photos of items you like, color palettes and patterns, and inspiration. Next take photos of your home. Photos are a great reference point when you are out shopping.

Love It | You have to love it to want it in your home. Don’t settle for something you don’t like. Don’t waste your money on something you don’t love.

Window Treatments

Don’t settle for those boring, bland mini-blinds. Top your windows with stylish drapes and hardware. This DIY drapery tutorial is a terrific place to start. Dress up your windows and add impact to a room with fabric.

Paint

The walls are not the only items to paint. Paint your furniture to add color and style to a room. An end table, lamp, or dresser will make a stylish color statement to you room. Check out the amazing paint options in metallic too. If you can paint walls, with written permission, check out this fun iPhone app by Home Depot to see what a color will look like before you paint.

Art

Art is a fabulous way to add style and personalize your space. Wall art adds color, texture, and interest to a room. Sculptures and dimensional art draw the eye down and add layers to the room. Incorporate different styles of art to create an eclectic and interesting look. Experiment with creating your own art. This tutorial for a contemporary piece is terrific and fairly easy.

Create your own custom accessories with paint, wall paper, and stenciling. Add your personality to the room when you can’t or do not want to search for the “perfect” piece.

Fabric

Fabrics layer a room in color and texture. Use drapes, decorative pillows, throws, and bedding in your rooms. Don’t forget the dining table and bathroom. Table runners and cloths paired with placemats add a designer touch to the table. The bathroom gets a spa feel when you include luxurious towels, plush rugs, and a colorful shower curtain. For a cohesive look, narrow your color palette to three or four colors throughout the home. The colors will flow, compliment, and enhance the space.

Rugs

Rental carpet is typically an unappealing oatmeal color. Very nice if no one uses it but a snore if you like color. Area rugs are a fabulous way to add color and texture to a room. Place the rugs slightly under large furniture and extend the majority of the rug into the space.

Storage

Book cases and open shelving pieces are terrific storage and design elements. To amp up the design of a boring shelving unit, paint the back, add mirror or wallpaper. Open shelving can look amazing in a dining room or kitchen. Create a coffee or cocktail bar, stack your lovely dining pieces, and add accessories for a designer look.

When purchasing furniture, look for pieces that perform more than one function. For example, entertainment units that have drawers or shelving for basket storage. Ottomans and benches with storage are terrific to sit on and store blankets. Baskets or storage boxes slide under beds for extra storage. The bathroom may need a bit of help here too. Look for shelving units, stylish towel holders, and baskets.

Life

Any space looks fresh and alive with the addition of plants and flowers. You don’t need a green thumb to incorporate plants into your space. Look for terrariums and low maintenance plants. Pick up a bouquet of flowers at the market. Place them in a glass canning jar and the room gets an instant lift of vibrant color.

Living in a rental should not stop you from adding your style. Think creatively and wisely to add color and design to the space. Use your plan and color palette to add items you love to your home and you won’t go wrong.

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About Tammi

Tammi Young is a native of Northern California. She raised her 4 children in the same county where she and her husband of 23 years grew up. In addition to writing on her blog, she owns and operates an internet service company, is the accounting and human resources manager, and owns a handmade jewelry company. She loves everything creative, especially DIY furniture renovation projects, fashion, and jewelry. Pink flowers are her favorites and she loves coffee!

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